GOP running Wegman for Cincinnati council

A first-time candidate, businesswoman Melissa Wegman of East Price Hill, will kick off her campaign for a seat on Cincinnati City Council with a reception Thursday at the Incline Public House in her home neighborhood.

Wegman - who is vice president of The Wegman Company, a commercial furniture services company - is a first time candidate for elective office; and she will run with an endorsement from the Hamilton County Republican Party, according to GOP county chairman Alex Triantafilou.

Hamilton County commissioner Chris Monzell will be at her kick-off reception at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Incline Public House. The suggested donation to her campaign for the reception is $50.

Wegman joins Amy Murray and incumbent Charlie Winburn as the endorsed candidates on the GOP council slate so far. Murray was appointed to council in 2011, after Monzel took office as a county commissioner, but lost her seat in the 2011 election.